Atomizing nozzle



1952 c. M. SLIEPCEVICH 2,618,512

ATOMIZING NOZZLE Filed Aug. 21, 1948 FIG.I

Il8 6l97 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

CEDOMI R M. SLIEPCEVICH ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1952 ATOMIZING NOZZLECedomir M. Sliepcevich, Ann Arbor, Mich., as-

signor to Kask Technical Corporation, Jackson Heights, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application August 21, 1948, Serial No. 45,529

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to nozzles for atomizing liquids.Particularly in one aspect this invention relates to such a nozzle inwhich a vibrating member is employed to bring about the desired degreeof atomization.

In the commercial atomizing nozzles on the market today in whichpressure alone is employed as the atomizing force as contrasted withthose in which a gas under pressure is used as the propelling anddisruptive agency, the atomization of the liquid is produced bysubjecting it to a whirling action before ejecting it from an orifice ofthe desired shape and size. The whirling motion is imparted to theliquid by passing it under pressure through a chamber of specialconstruction. All of the nozzles of this type are inherently inefiicientbecause of the pressure drop caused by the absorption of energy as fluidfriction when the liquid traverses the nozzle chamber.

It is an object of the present invention to produce an atomizing nozzleof a design radically different from that discussed above in whichenergy losses due to fluid friction are in a large part eliminated.

It is a further object of this invention to produce an atomizing nozzlein which a much lower fluid pressure is required to obtain a certaindegree of atomization than is the case with the presently-known types ofatomizing nozzles.

It is stillanother object of the invention to provide an atomizingnozzle of relatively simple and compact construction which brings abouta more efiicient atomization of liquids than those presently in use.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide an atomizingnozzle which will operate efiiciently and bring about a fine degree ofatomization of a liquid by using only the force supplied by the liquidunder pressure.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thedetailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 of the drawing is a front elevational view, partly incross-section, of the device of this invention in which atomization iseiiected by a vibrating orifice-containing resilient member.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, partly in cross-section, of amodification of the device of Figure l in which the vibratingorifice-containing member is an integral part of the body portion of thedevice.

Referring with greater particularity to the device of Figure 1, numeral4 designates a body portion of any desired shape, preferably cylin-- 2drical, having a chamber 6 therein, an inwardly flanged end section Iforming a circular opening, and an internally threaded end section 8.Chamber 6 is preferably cylindrical and of circular cross-section;however, chamber 6 may be oval or polygonal in shape, if desired.

A flanged and hollow male plug 9 suitably threaded is fitted intothreaded end section 8 of body portion 4. Plug 9 may be connected tobody portion 4 by welding or may even constitute an integral part ofbody portion 4 such as when the nozzle is made by casting or molding ina suitable manner. Plug 9 contains a plurality of apertures Hsurrounding a central threaded aperture I2 in the end thereof. AperturesII and I2 openly communicate between chamber 6 and the hollow interiorof plug 9. The juncture between plug 9 and body portion 4 may be sealedby means of a conventional circular gasket l3.

A threaded valve member l4 comprising a sonically-shaped terminalportion I6 and an enlarged terminal portion I'I containing a groove ornotch to receive a screw driver is screwed into aperture [2 of plug 9.When in position, the conically-shaped terminal section It of valvemember [4 presses against an orifice-containing resilient member I 8 andis seated in a cylindrical orifice [9 of circular cross-section inmember 18. Member [8 is made of a circular disk of suitable spring steelor other resilient material and orifice I9 is located centrally therein.Valve member l4 and orifice I9 are axially aligned and may be made ofsuitably hard material to resist erosion and wear, for example ofhardened steel or alloy known to those skilled in the art.

Valve member I4 is seated on the inner edge of orifice I9 to form a lineor knife edge contact and urges the orifice-containing member 18 firmlyagainst a conventional gasket 2| and flanged end section I of bodyportion 4. Gasket 21 effectively seals the juncture between member l8and body portion l. Member Hi may be sealed to body portion 4 by weldingor soldering without departing from the scope of this invention.

Hollow plug 9 is connected to a conduit 22 supplying liquid underpressure to chamber 6. Any suitable means may be employed to connectconduit 22 to the device of Figure 1, such as threading as shown, orsoldering or welding, without departing from the scope of thisinvention. The various other parts of the device may be connected by theabove methods, if desired.

In operation liquid under pressure passes from conduit 22 throughapertures ll to chamber 6 and thence through orifice l9. The size oforifice I I9, the resiliency and mass of orifice-containing member I8,and the force with which valve member I4 presses against orifice I9 areso co-related to one another that the passage of liquid under pressurethrough orifice I9 supplies a force in correct phase relationship sothat orifice-containing member I8 is maintained in forced vibration. Therapid vibration of the edge of orifice I9 upon the comically-shapedterminal portion I6 of valve member I4 breaks up the liquid passingthrough orifice I9 into a fine spray-like form.

Member I8 is preferably a circular disk be-'- tween about and about A;of an inch thick but may be as thin as 0.01 of an-inch.Orificecontaining member I8 actslike aspring:

In general the greater the mass of the vibrating member I8, the lowerwill be the'frequency tweenabout 60 and severalthousandcyclesper second.

Figure 2'of'the drawing illustrates amodification in whichtheorifice-containing member and vibrating member is an-integral part ofthe body portionhaving 'a-chamber- 3 I thereinand an end section 32containing an orifice 33- of' circular cross-section. The opposite endof body" portion 29is internally and externally threaded at and 39,-respectively. End-section 32 is usually relatively thin in comparison-toother portions of body portionze-so that it is'slightly-fiexiblewhenSesction 32 0fthe' nozzle may bemade of special alloys or of steel heattreated in a suitable manner to impart subjected to considerable force.

to it the desired hardness-andresiliency.

As in the device of Figure 1, the device ofFigure- 2' hasamale-plug 38suitably threaded to fit into the internallythreaded section 3d of 'bodyportion 2-9I Plug 35 may be connected to body portion'29by otherconventional'methools'such as welding, bolting, etc., without-departingfrom the scope of this invention. Plug 36-contains a pluralityofapertures 31' surrounding a central threaded aperture-38;

A threaded valve member 41 comprising "a" conically-shaped terminalportion 43 and an enlarged terminal portion- 42 is screwed into aperture38 of-plug'35'. When inposition-inaperture 38,- the conica-lly-shaped'terminal section 43 of valve member H presses against the inner edgeoforifice 33 and isseatedthereintomake a knife edge contact therewith.-Valve member 4| and-orifice 33 are'axially aligned. Theforcewith whichthe end 32 and valve-member 4| make-contact is adjustedby screwing valvemember 4'I into aperture'38'of plug 36; or by adjusting the position ofplugteitself;

Body portion 23 is connected to-a conduit 34* supplying'liquidunderpressure-to' chamber 3i, such as by threading'asshownat- 33; Theliquid passes from conduit t l-through apertures 37 of plug 36 tochamber3I.

The arrangements of the elements of the device of Figure 2 obviate thenecessity of any'gaskets for sealing the various parts'in order toprevent leakage of liquid from the nozzle. Valve member 4| may be easilymade an integral part of plug 36 by machining, casting or welding in amanner known to those skilled in the art. When an integral part of plug36, valve member H is adjusted by changing the position of plug 36.

The operationof the device of Figure ZJis similar to the device ofFigure 1. liquid under pressure passes from chamber 3I through orifice33 and causes end section 32 to vibrate. The vibration'of' end section32 breaks up the liquid from orifice 33 into a fine spray as the resultof the vibrationofthe-inner edge of orifice 33 against .conically-shapedterminal portion 43 of valve by the comically-shaped portion=of thevalve head of the nozzles shown in Figures 1 and 21s between 60and'about' 150' degrees, the-actual anglebest suitedfor any particularvalve head-Will'depend on:such factors as the sizeofthe'orificeand thepressure of. the liquid'beingatomized. Included angles" between and .120degrees forwthe valve head'are preferred.

In operatiom. the" potential energy available from the pressure. off.the liquid is consumed by the friction: of" the liquidpassing throughthe nozzle. and by the energy necessary. to cause vibration of theorifice-containing member. For

maximum efiiciency, therefore; it is desirableto' reduce'theenergy'losses'to' a minimum. The

greater the proportion of the total energy available-for'usein vibratingthe orifice-containing member; thehigher the frequency of vibrationthatcan be obtained which results in the maximumdispersion of theliquid'asa'spray or fog for a givenpressure. In fact,,if energy losses are toogreat the valve-member will not vibrate.

Accordingly; the dimensions and" shapes of such' elements asthe orificeand'the valve member are important and the following dimensions serve asa guide for the construction ofa-nozzle havingminimum frictionallosses.- The diameter of the orifice should not be so small as to causeexcessive energy losses by the passage of liquid therethrough.Generallyi the diameter of the orifice will be between about & and aboutinch, but larger or smaller diameter orificesmay be useddepending onsuch factors-as the pressure of the liquids and the'capacity of thenozzle.

The diameter of the valve head is only slightly larger than the diameterofthe mouthof the orifice in order to insure uniform particle'size.Preferably, the diameter'of the valve head-'isnot more than-a ibian'inch larger than the diameter' of the orifice. For-example; a valvehead not greater than 6% of an inch in diameter should be used with anorifice of an inch in diameter.

The atomizing nozzles shown inF'igures 1 and 1 2 may be used on liquidsat various pressures. Best results are obtained at pressures above aboutpounds per squareinch gage-and upto pressures as high as the tensionoftheorifir've v containing member correlated with the orifice diameterwill permit. Pressures as high as 6000 pounds per square inch gage maybe used with the vibrating type nozzle of this invention with excellentresults characterized by high efficiency. For maximum capacities andfinest sprays, pressures between 1000 and 6000 pounds er square inchgage are preferred for the nozzles shown but lesser pressures can beused at sacrifice of capacity and fine dispersion.

Various alterations and modifications of the nozzle illustrated, such asthe size and shape of the orifice and the orifice-containing member, maybecome apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thescope of this invention, Various uses of the nozzle and its principle ofoperation are contemplated such as for the use in humidification,emulsification, milk spraying, spray drying, fuel injection, spraypainting, powder metallurgy, surface cooling, fire extinguishingdistillation, etc. The vibrating principle of the nozzle in atomizingliquids has its obvious application as an integral part of equipment andappliances, such as, oil burners, internal combustion engines, fireextinguishers, etc. In any of these instances the nozzle portion of theapparatus is defined by the various associated parts necessary toproduce a, vibrating action of the orifice-containing member, the resultof which vibrating action liquid is atomized.

It is understood that the essence of the present invention is theemployment of a vibrating orifice-containing member, whether a separableor integral portion of the nozzle, for atomizing of a liquid, and it isrealized that there are many available ways other than thosespecifically disclosed herein for bringing about the desired results.

Having described my invention, I claim:

An atomizing nozzle comprising a metallic body portion having a chamberwithin said body portion and an outlet orifice of circular cross secionof 4 4 to A; of an inch in diameter and smaller than said chamber in oneend of said body portion, the other end of said body portion beingthreaded. internally and externally, the orifice-containing end of saidbody portion being resilient and 0.01 to of an inch in thickness, aperforated plug threaded and positioned in said threaded end of saidinternally threaded portion of said body portion and adapted to receivea threaded valve member, a stationary valve member positioned in saidthreaded plug and having a conically shaped terminal portion of circularcross section or" not greater than about of an inch in diameter greaterthan said orifice and having a conically shaped terminal portionpressing against the edge of said orifice, and said valve member havingan apex angle between about and about and terminating adjacent saidoutlet orifice.

CEDOMIR M. SLIEPCEVICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,013 Bourdil Dec. 15, 18911,589,238 Scott June 15, 1926 1,589,242 Scott June 15, 1926 1,589,244Scott June 15, 1926 1,589,245 Scott June 15, 1926 2,052,560 French Sept.1, 1936 2,144,874 Edwards Jan. 24, 1939 2,308,504 French Jan. 19, 1943FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 157,428 Great Britain May 10, 1922

